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Biomedical subjects

L K Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to L K Wagner.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Radiation-induced micrencephaly in guinea pigs.

The effect of X rays on brain weight of guinea pig pups at birth was studied in 21-day-old embryos exposed in utero to doses of 75 and 100 mGy. When compared to controls and when corrected for body weight, gestation time, litter size, sex, and examiner differences, the brains of irradiated pups weighed approximately 46 mg less than those of controls (P < 0.001) for the 75-mGy group and about 55 mg less for the 100-mGy group. Brains of females weighed 51 mg less than those of males of the same body weight. Dam weight and caging conditions had no observed effect on brain weight.

Animals

A modified x-ray spectra reconstruction technique.

We have previously reported on a four-parameter Laplace transform pair model that accurately reconstructs x-ray spectra from attenuation data. However, for some spectra, the model exhibits non-physical characteristics at the higher x-ray energies. This results when one of the fitted parameters, v, is less than or equal to 0.6. Simply limiting the parameter to values greater than 0.6 produces an unsatisfactory result. It is shown that improved accuracy is obtained when the model is applied to a more filtered segment of the attenuation curve. The resulting spectrum is satisfactory for the more filtered beam. One can then reliably construct the original spectrum by mathematically correcting for the additional filtration.

Models, Theoretical

The impact-absorbing effects of facial fractures in closed-head injuries. An analysis of 210 patients.

A series of 210 patients with facial fractures sufficiently severe to require cranial computerized tomography (CT) to evaluate suspected closed-head injury (CHI) was studied. The injuries were separated into five grades of severity based on neurological examination, including cranial CT. The injuries were also grouped into three categories based on facial regional involvement, using chi-square contingency table analysis. The data demonstrated that patients with upper facial fractures were at greatest risk for serious CHI. Injuries to both the mandibular and the midfacial regions with no upper facial involvement more frequently resulted in mild CHI with a modest likelihood of no neurological deficits. Trauma to only the mandibular region or to only the midfacial region was least likely to involve CHI.

Adult

Conceptus dose from two state-of-the-art CT scanners.

Two phantoms, constructed from plastic and water and appropriately proportioned to simulate the female pelvis, were used in the evaluation of the dose delivered to a conceptus from two widely used computed tomographic (CT) scanners. Doses were measured along the central axis and surface of each phantom while scanning 25 contiguous 1-cm sections. Ionization chambers were used for data acquisition. Methods for correcting for partial volume effects inside the chambers are examined. Formulas for calculating the dose to the conceptus in a wide variety of possible situations are presented. These data may be used to guide management of pregnant patients who require or have had CT examinations.

Fetus

Hyperextension dislocation of the cervical spine.

The purpose of this report is to describe hyperextension dislocation of the cervical spine and to illustrate its often subtle radiographic features. An analysis of the lateral cervical spine radiographs in 20 patients with hyperextension dislocation of the cervical spine revealed the combination of diffuse prevertebral soft-tissue widening together with normally aligned cervical vertebrae in all patients with this injury. In six (30%) of 20 patients, this combination of findings was the only radiographic sign. The precise level of dislocation was indicated by a thin, transversely oriented avulsion fracture fragment arising from the anterior aspect of the inferior end-plate of the dislocated vertebra in 13 (65%) of 20 patients, by a vacuum defect in the intervertebral disk subjacent to the dislocated vertebra in three (15%), by a widened intervertebral disk space in three (15%), and by comminuted fracture of the spinous process in one (5%). Clinically, all 20 patients had facial trauma and all had some manifestation of the acute central cervical spinal cord syndrome.

Adolescent

Digital radiography using a computed tomographic instrument.

A prototype computed radiography (CR) system was evaluated for its efficacy as an independent diagnostic modality. Preliminary measurements of high contrast resolution, low contrast perceptibility, and dose were obtained. Clinical examinations including skull, abdomen, liver, gallbladder, biliary system, spine, and extremities were performed as an adjunct to either computed tomography or CR. The data suggest that CR can be an effective diagnostic imaging modality by itself. Advantages over conventional radiography include high scatter rejection, low patient dose, wide dynamic range, and good low contrast sensitivity for large objects; disadvantages, its long exposure time and relatively poor high contrast spatial resolution.

Biliary Tract

Application of a Laplace transform pair model for high-energy x-ray spectral reconstruction.

A Laplace transform pair model, previously shown to accurately reconstruct x-ray spectra at diagnostic energies, has been applied to megavoltage energy beams. The inverse Laplace transforms of 2-, 6-, and 25-MV attenuation curves were evaluated to determine the energy spectra of these beams. The 2-MV data indicate that the model can reliably reconstruct spectra in the low megavoltage range. Experimental limitations in acquiring the 6-MV transmission data demonstrate the sensitivity of the model to systematic experimental error. The 25-MV data result in a physically realistic approximation of the present spectrum.

Humans

Energy and rate dependence of diagnostic x-ray exposure meters.

Variations in x-ray exposure measurements among a variety of contemporary diagnostic exposure meters are investigated. Variations may result from systematic errors due to calibration, beam-quality dependence and exposure-rate dependence. It is concluded that the majority of general purpose diagnostic meters will agree to within 10% of each other if exposure rates are below 1.3 mC kg-1S-1 of air (5 R s-1) and beam qualities are typical for general purpose radiology, excluding mammography. For exposure rates comparable to those in barium enema radiography the variations can range up to 25% or more. Variations up to 40% were observed among general purpose exposure meters at mammographic beam qualities. In the mammographic range, mammographic (thin window) exposure meters varied by no more than 2%.

Biophysical Phenomena

Laplace reconstruction of experimental diagnostic x-ray spectra.

This paper displays the results of a blind study used to determine the capability of a Laplace transform pair model to accurately reconstruct diagnostic x-ray spectra from experimental attenuation data. Spectra reconstructed from attenuation measurements are compared to experimental spectra obtained on the same unit using an intrinsic germanium spectrometer system. The results show that when pure attenuation materials are used, good agreement is obtained between the experimental and computed spectra. If an alloy attenuator like 1100 aluminum is used, the proportion of contaminants must be included in the Laplace formulation for accurate reconstruction.

Alloys

Determination of diagnostic x-ray spectra with characteristic radiation using attenuation analysis.

An analytical method to compute x-ray spectra from attenuation data utilizing the Laplace transformation has been extended to include characteristic radiation. It is based on an a priori technique of determining the ratio of characteristic radiation exposure to the total radiation exposure in diagnostic spectra. The technique is shown to produce characteristic intensities in good agreement with experimentally determined values.

Humans

Probability of causation for cancers potentially induced by ionizing radiation.

Prompted by increasing litigation claiming cancer induction from exposure to radiation from nuclear weapons tests, the United States Congress enacted an amendment to the Orphan Drug Act (Public Law 97-414, January 4, 1983), through which the National Institutes of Health was directed to and did produce Probability of Causation (PC) Tables. This review defines PC and discusses the data, limitations, and uses of the concept.

Breast Neoplasms

On the measurement of half-value layer in film-screen mammography.

Sources of variations in the measurement of half-value layer (HVL) in film-screen mammography are evaluated. Two principal sources are the energy responses of ionization chambers and the elemental compositions of the 1100 aluminum-alloy attenuation materials. Methods in measuring the thickness of attenuation materials are also an important potential source of error. These factors as well as the influence of geometry of measurement, position of measurement in the field, and precision of radiation output are examined. Recommendations for consistency in measurement are provided.

Biophysical Phenomena

Recommendations on performance characteristics of diagnostic exposure meters: report of AAPM Diagnostic X-Ray Imaging Task Group No. 6.

Task Group 6 of the Diagnostic X-Ray Imaging Committee of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) was appointed to develop performance standards for diagnostic x-ray exposure meters. The recommendations as approved by the Diagnostic X-Ray Imaging Committee and the Science Council of the AAPM are delineated in this report and provide specifications on meter precision, calibration accuracy, calibration reference points, linearity, energy dependence, exposure rate dependence, leakage, amplification gain settings, directional dependence, the stem effect, constancy checks, and calibration intervals. The report summarizes recommendations for meters used in mammography, general purpose radiography including special procedures, computed tomography, and radiation safety surveys for x-ray radiography.

Child